Anthony Michael Knoppa

Serial Killer

Anthony Michael Jr. Knoppa: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Background

Anthony Michael "Tony" Knoppa Jr., born in 1948, was a convicted rapist who, alongside his associate Harry Andrew Lanham, was implicated in a series of brutal crimes in Texas during the early 1970s. Their criminal activities predominantly spanned from June to November 1971, during which they were suspected of abducting, assaulting, and murdering multiple young women.

Criminal Activities

Knoppa and Lanham's modus operandi involved targeting vulnerable individuals, including hitchhikers, women in bars, or stranded motorists. They would abduct these victims, subject them to repeated sexual assaults, and subsequently murder them to eliminate any witnesses. The following are the known victims associated with their crimes:

• Colette Anise Wilson
  • Age: 13
  • Date of Disappearance: June 17, 1971
  • Location: Near Highway 6 and County Road 99, Texas
  • Details: Colette was last seen after being dropped off by her band director. Her remains were discovered months later near the Addicks Reservoir in west Houston, with a gunshot wound to the skull.
• Brenda Kaye Jones
  • Age: 14
  • Date of Disappearance: July 1, 1971
  • Location: Galveston, Texas
  • Details: Brenda was last seen returning home from visiting her aunt at the hospital. Her body was found the next day floating in Galveston Bay near Pelican Island; she had been strangled.
• Rhonda Johnson and Sharon Shaw
  • Age: Both 14
  • Date of Disappearance: August 4, 1971
  • Location: Galveston, Texas
  • Details: The two friends were last seen walking along Seawall Boulevard. Their remains were discovered months later in Clear Lake.
• Gloria Ann Gonzales
  • Age: 19
  • Date of Disappearance: October 28, 1971
  • Location: Houston, Texas
  • Details: Gloria was last seen near her home. Her body was found weeks later near the Addicks Reservoir, close to where Colette Wilson's remains were discovered. She had suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
• Linda Faye Sutherlin
  • Age: 21
  • Date of Disappearance: November 4, 1971
  • Location: Houston, Texas
  • Details: Linda was last seen leaving a bar on Telephone Road. Her body was discovered on November 7, 1971, in a ditch near Pearland. She had been beaten, strangled, and shot multiple times.

Investigation and Conviction

The disappearance of these young women prompted extensive investigations. In 1972, Lanham confessed to the rape and murder of several victims, including 22-year-old housewife Pamela Huebner, who went missing on June 9, 1971. Despite leading authorities to locations where he claimed to have disposed of Huebner's body, searches yielded no results, and her remains were never found. Lanham and Knoppa were subsequently arrested and charged. In the case of Linda Faye Sutherlin, both men were convicted of her murder. Knoppa received a 50-year prison sentence, while Lanham was sentenced to 25 years. While awaiting trial for other murders, Lanham attempted to escape from the Harris County Jail on December 30, 1973. During the escape attempt, he was shot and killed by police officers. Following Lanham's death, pending charges against Knoppa were dropped due to the loss of the primary witness against him. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Colette Anise Wilson Age: (13), Date of Death: 1971-06-17

    ...View 5 additional victims

KNOPPA Anthony Michael Jr. | Serial Killer Database Wiki - Fandom

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